Steam-powered moisture for your skin

Problem: I take a water exercise class three times a week in a chlorinated pool. Afterward, I can use a hot tub, a dry sauna or a steam room. Which would be most beneficial for my skin?

-- Sharon Ferguson, Naperville

Solution: Your best bet is the steam room, because the high humidity will temper the drying effect of hot temperatures on your skin, said Dr. Aleksandar Krunic, a dermatologist at Chicago's Swedish Covenant Hospital.

The steam room is also less likely to turn you into a prune than the hot tub, and there's a lower risk for infection unless the steam room is overcrowded or you forgot your flip-flops, said Krunic. Moreover, the high humidity can also have beneficial effects on your respiratory system, making it easier to breathe. Limit your exposure to 10 to 30 minutes.

Saunas, which emit dry heat around 160 to 210 degrees, don't have much humidity. This dries out the skin, making it "sensitive, scaly, fissured [broken or slit] and prone to dermatitis [inflammation] and irritation," said Krunic.

Finally, while hot tubs might feel good, they're crawling with bacteria. "The heat of the water dissipates chlorine more rapidly, and the level can easily drop below the recommended antimicrobial effect, causing a bacterial infection known as 'hot tub folliculitis' -- inflammation of follicles, especially hair follicles," said Krunic. Yuck. If you do sit in a hot tub, take off your swim cap so you don't overheat.

And remember, steam rooms and saunas are not for everyone; if you have acne, rosacea or psoriasis, the heat can make your problems worse, said Los Angeles dermatologist Ava Shamban.

Dermatologists often stress rinsing the chlorine off immediately after swimming and using a hydrating body wash, lotion or oil.